Realme 7 vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Contenders

The Realme 7 and Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G represent compelling options in the crowded mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a balanced experience, they take different approaches: the Realme 7 prioritizes raw gaming performance with its Helio G95 chipset, while the Mi 10 Lite 5G focuses on 5G connectivity and a sleeker design powered by the Snapdragon 765G. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing gaming and sustained performance, the Realme 7 emerges as the winner. Its Helio G95 chipset and 30W charging offer a noticeable advantage. However, the Mi 10 Lite 5G is a strong contender for those valuing 5G connectivity and a brighter display, despite its slightly lower endurance rating.

PHONES
Phone Names Realme 7 (Global) Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
5G bands-1, 3, 7, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE-AHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2020, October 072020, March 27. Released 2020, May 25
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, October 21Discontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame-
Dimensions162.3 x 75.4 x 9.4 mm (6.39 x 2.97 x 0.37 in)163.7 x 74.8 x 7.9 mm (6.44 x 2.94 x 0.31 in)
SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight196.5 g (6.95 oz)192 g (6.77 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.57 inches, 104.2 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits (typ)AMOLED, HDR10+, 430 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)
ChipsetMediatek Helio G95 (12 nm)Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MC4Adreno 620
OSAndroid 10, Realme UIAndroid 10, MIUI 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanoramaHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30/120fps1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jack-Yes
Loudspeaker YesYes
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoFM radio, recording
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging30W wired, 50% in 26 min, 100% in 65 min (advertised)20W wired, PD3.0, QC4
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4160 mAh
Misc
ColorsMist Blue, Mist WhiteAurora Blue, Cosmic Gray, Dream White
ModelsRMX2155M2002J9G, M2002J9S, XIG01
PriceAbout 250 EURAbout 130 EUR
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     0.74 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.79 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 6GB RAM-£ 312.99
64GB 6GB RAM-£ 399.99
RENEWED-£ 272.00
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 126h Endurance rating 103h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1474:1 (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.9 LUFS (Very good) -28.6 LUFS (Average)
Performance AnTuTu: 292828(v8) GeekBench: 1681 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 318117 (v8) GeekBench: 1927 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Realme 7 (Global)

  • Faster 30W charging for quicker top-ups
  • Superior battery endurance (126h rating)
  • Potentially better gaming performance with Helio G95

  • Lacks 5G connectivity
  • Display brightness not specified, potentially lower than Mi 10 Lite 5G

Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G

  • Integrated 5G modem for faster network speeds
  • Brighter display (610 nits) for outdoor visibility
  • Supports PD3.0 and QC4 charging standards

  • Slower 20W charging
  • Lower battery endurance (103h rating)

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 610 nits, providing superior visibility in direct sunlight compared to the Realme 7, whose contrast ratio is specified as 1474:1 (nominal) but lacks a brightness figure. While the Realme 7’s contrast ratio suggests deep blacks, the Mi 10 Lite 5G’s higher brightness is a practical advantage for outdoor use. Both displays are listed with 'Infinite' or 'nominal' contrast ratios, suggesting they are not utilizing advanced panel technologies like LTPO for variable refresh rates, focusing instead on cost-effectiveness.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed sensor information is absent. However, considering the market positioning, it’s likely the Mi 10 Lite 5G leans towards image processing optimized for social media sharing, while the Realme 7 might prioritize dynamic range in gaming-focused scenarios. Without specific sensor size or aperture data, a definitive camera comparison is difficult, but the Mi 10 Lite 5G’s brand reputation suggests a more refined software experience for photography.

Performance

The Realme 7’s Mediatek Helio G95, built on a 12nm process, features a CPU configuration geared towards gaming with its 2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 cores. In contrast, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G (7nm), offering a more balanced approach with its Kryo CPU architecture. The 7nm process of the Snapdragon 765G generally translates to better power efficiency, but the Helio G95’s higher clock speeds on its prime cores provide a performance edge in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming. The Snapdragon 765G’s integrated 5G modem is a key advantage, enabling faster download and upload speeds where 5G networks are available.

Battery Life

The Realme 7’s 30W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% in 26 minutes and 100% in 65 minutes, significantly outperforms the Mi 10 Lite 5G’s 20W charging, which supports PD3.0 and QC4. Despite the Mi 10 Lite 5G’s support for faster charging standards, the lower wattage translates to longer charging times. The Realme 7’s endurance rating of 126 hours is also considerably higher than the Mi 10 Lite 5G’s 103 hours, indicating longer battery life between charges, despite the lack of specific battery capacity information.

Buying Guide

Buy the Realme 7 (Global) if you need a phone that can handle demanding mobile games for extended periods and appreciate faster charging speeds. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G if you prioritize 5G network access, a brighter screen for outdoor visibility, and a more streamlined user experience, even if it means slightly less gaming prowess and a shorter battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Mediatek Helio G95 in the Realme 7 throttle under sustained gaming loads?
While the Helio G95 is a capable gaming chip, the 12nm process can lead to thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. However, Realme’s cooling solutions may mitigate this to some extent. The Snapdragon 765G in the Mi 10 Lite 5G, built on a 7nm process, is generally more efficient and less prone to throttling, but may not match the Realme 7’s peak performance.
❓ How significant is the difference in battery life between the Realme 7 and the Mi 10 Lite 5G in real-world usage?
The Realme 7’s 126-hour endurance rating suggests approximately 23 hours more usage compared to the Mi 10 Lite 5G’s 103 hours. This translates to a noticeable difference for heavy users, potentially adding several hours of screen-on time per day. The Mi 10 Lite 5G’s 5G connectivity can also impact battery life, as maintaining a 5G connection consumes more power than 4G.
❓ Is the 20W charging on the Mi 10 Lite 5G slow compared to the Realme 7's 30W charging?
Yes, the 30W charging on the Realme 7 is significantly faster. While the Mi 10 Lite 5G supports PD3.0 and QC4, the lower wattage results in a longer charging time. Expect the Realme 7 to fully charge in approximately 65 minutes, while the Mi 10 Lite 5G will likely take over 90 minutes.